Fire escape



Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,639

. R. PLATMAN FIRE ESCAPE Filed Aug. 1, 1922 INVENTOR.

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E. 1 al an ROBERT PLATE/KAN, or PENN ran, new YORK.

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Application filed August 1, 1822. Serial No. 578,958.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT PLATIlTAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Penn Yan, in the county of Yates and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ire Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fire escape de vice and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed device, which may be attached to a support in a room from which escape is to be made and means provided whereby the person using the device can easily control the speed or" the descent.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l a vtrout elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section, enlarged, on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The improved device comprises a stock member 10 preferably of wood and with a transverse foot rest 11 at the lower end. Lat

eral guard cables 12 are attached to the footrest 11 and the stock 10 to prevent the feet of the occupant from slipping from the rest, and a guard loop 13 is also attached to the stock to embrace the waist of the occupant and prevent his falling from the device.

Attached to the upper end of the stock are spaced bracket devices 14 in which a plurality of cable guide pulleys 16, 17 and 18 are mounted for rotation.

A cable guide pulley 19 is also supported within a transverse slot 20 in the lower part of the stock.

A. stub shaft 21 is supported by the stock 10 and carries a winding drum 22 having an operating handle 23.

The side faces of the stock 10 are provided with longitudinall directed guideways 2 1 to receive a supporting cable 25 in its passage around the guide pulley 19, as shown in Fig. 1, the cable being held from outward displacement by guard plates 26, 26, 27 and 28. The supporting cable 25 is provided with a hook 2-9 at the upper end to enable it to be connected to a rigid support or some kind in the room from which the escape is to be made, and passes thence over the guide pulley 16. thence through one of the guide grooves 24, thence around the pulley 19, thence upwardly through the other guide groove, thence around the guide pulleys 17 and 18 and thence to the winding drum 22. I

The total length of the cable 25 will be equal to the distance from the object "to which the hook 29 is attached to the ground outside the building, plus the amount used in passing around the guide pulleys, and W111 vary to correspond to the height of the building.

A guard pulley 31 extending through a transverse slot in the stock 10, to be engaged by the cable 25, and operating to prevent the cable binding in the guide grooves. r Y A brake lever device 32 is mounted on the stock 10 between the guard plates 27 and 28, to be operated by the knee or the occupant of the device to check'the passage of the cable and thus assist in controlling the speed of the descent. I

Another brake device 33 is hinged at 34c relative to the stock, for instance between the brackets 14, and operative by the hand 30 is mounted on a stud of the occupant of the device, to further control the speed of the descent.

Initially the cable will be wound upon the drum 22 until. the foot rest 11 rests upon the window sill and the hook 29 is attached to the support. The person who is to descend then mounts the member 11 and places the loop 13 aroundthe waist and permits his weight to bear upon the step 11 and thus unwinds the cable from the drum, the friction of the cable around the pulleys 17 and 18 retarding the descent.

The speed of the descent may be fully controlled or stopped entirely by actuating one or both of the brake devices, as will be obvious.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be manufactured at a small expense and provides an eas and safe means for descending from the upper floors of buildings.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will beunderstood that modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In some cases the drum 22 may be dispensed with and the surplus portion of the cable permitted to hang tree, the brakes being depended on to hold the device from running down too fast.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is c- 1. A fire escape comprising a stock having guide grooves in its opposite edges and a foot rest at the lower end and supporting brackets at the upper end, a plurality of guard plates'attached to said stock and extending over said guide grooves, a plurality of cable guide pulleys supported in said brackets, a winding drum supported on said stock, a cable guide pulley supported in said stock adjacent said foot rest, a cable adapted to be attached at one end to a support and passing thence through one of the guide grooves and beneath one of the guide plates and around the guide pulley in the lower portion of the stock, and thence through the other guide groove and beneath another of said guard plates, and around the guide pulleys which are supported in the brackets and thence to the winding drum, a guide pulley within said stock and between saic guide grooves and opposite one of said guard plates, and a brake device carried by the stock and adapted to compress the cable the same within one of the guide grooves.

2. A fire escape comprising a stock having guide grooves in its opposite edges and a foot rest at the lower end and supporting brackets at the upper end, a plurality of guard plates attached to said stock and extending over said guide grooves, plurality of cable guide pulleys supported in said brackets, a winding drum supported on said stock a cable guide pulley supported in said stock adjacent said. foot rest, guide pulley Within said stock and between said guide grooves and opposite one of said guard plates, a cable adapted to be attached at one end to a stationary support and conducted through said guide grooves, beneath said guard plates around said guide pulleys, and attached to said winding drum, and a brake device carried by the stock and adapted to compress the cable against the same within one of the guide grooves.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

ROBERT PLATMAN. 

